Doubles

Doubles is a beloved and iconic street food dish in Trinidad . It is a tasty and filling snack that consists of two soft, flatbread "baras" filled with curried chickpeas, known as "channa." Doubles are a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, or as a late-night snack.

To make doubles, the baras are made from a dough mixture that typically includes flour, baking powder, salt, and sometimes turmeric for color. The dough is then rolled out into small, circular shapes and fried until they puff up and develop a light and fluffy texture.

The curried chickpeas, or channa, are the flavorful filling of doubles. The chickpeas are cooked with a variety of spices such as cumin, turmeric, garlic, and Trinidadian curry powder. The resulting channa has a rich and aromatic flavor that pairs perfectly with the soft and slightly chewy baras.

When ordering doubles, you can customize your snack with various toppings and condiments. Common additions include a tangy tamarind chutney, a spicy pepper sauce, or a refreshing cucumber and mango chutney. Some vendors may also offer additional ingredients like shredded cabbage, mango, or cucumber slices to add extra texture and freshness to the dish.

Doubles are typically assembled to order by street food vendors. The vendor will take a bara, spoon some curried chickpeas onto it, add any desired toppings and condiments, and then fold the bara over to create a sandwich-like snack. Doubles are usually served wrapped in wax paper or newspaper for easy handling and to retain their warmth.